A lot of hopes for avoiding war, US sends ammunition to Ukraine

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby unveiled a grim assessment of the one-hour telephone conversation between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

The “is certainly not a sign that things are moving in the right direction. Of course, it is not a sign that Mr. Putin has any intention of deceleration. And of course it's not a sign that he's committing himself to a diplomatic path before”, Kirby told “Fox News Sunday”

So it gives us no reason for optimism”, he stressed.

Asked whether German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's planned visit to Russia on Tuesday is “the last attempt to resolve this situation diplomatically, Kirby replied: “I don't know if I would say the last gap, but of course we understand that the time component here seems to be shrinking and giving us all reasons for concern. But again, we have said and believe today, there is still time and space for a diplomatic road forward. ”

Ukraine has received a shipment of Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition from Lithuania, the defence ministry in Kiev said Sunday, Reuters reports.

Earlier Sunday, two other planes sent about 180 tonnes of ammunition from the United States, Ukrainian Minister Olexei Reznikov said. Ukraine had so far received almost 1,500 tonnes of ammunition delivered on 17 flights, he said on Twitter.

Military officials say Ukraine has significantly strengthened its armed forces with the help of allies, equipping the military, in particular, with American and British anti-tank systems as well as Turkish fears.